An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 42, October 1946--September 1947

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AN GAIDHEAL.
An Gearran, 1947.
PROPAGANDA NOTES.
Northern Area.
A Visit to the Uists: North Uist.—From 27th
November to 7th December the Organiser was engaged in the
Uists. On arrival at Lochmaddy he was met by Mr. M. A.
MacLeod, M.A., Headmaster, and that evening Mr. MacLeod
presided at an all-Gaelic Ceilidh in the local hall. There was
a large attendance, and after an address a pleasant hour was
spent in Song and Story. On the following day Lochmaddy
and Sollas Schools were visited and enrolments were made in
Comunn na h-Oigridh, particulars of which will appear later in
this report. Visits were also made to the Schools at Cladach-
Kirkabost, Bayhead, and Tigharry, and new enrolments were
made. That evening a public meeting was held in Tigharry
School, and the local Branch was re-constituted with Mr.
Archie MacAulay as President and Miss Catriona MacDonald
as Hon. Secretary. An enjoyable Ceilidh followed. The
Committee afterwards met to arrange a syllabus for the session.
On 2nd December Locheport and Carinish Schools were
visited and additional enrolments were made. In the evening
a public meeting was held at Carinish, when it was unanimously
decided to form a new Branch to be called “ Meur Clachan na
Liiib,” to embrace the villages of Carinish, Clachan, Locheport,
Baleshare, and Cladach-Kirkabost. The President is Mr. Neil
MacLean, and the Hon. Secretary is Miss Ena MacDonald.
Benbecula.—Then across the North Ford to Ben-
becula and a talk with the children at Torlum School, locally
known as “ Cnoc na Mona.” A public meeting was held in the
school in the evening, with the Organiser presiding. As
Balivanich School is now closed and the children are being
motored to Torlum daily, it was felt that one Branch would
suffice for the Island. This suggestion was unanimously
approved, and a new Branch was formed, to be called “ Comunn
Gaidhealach Beinn nam Faoghla,” with Dr. MacKinnon as
President and Mr. D. J. MacLean, M.A., as Hon. Secretary.
Dr. MacKinnon then took the chair, and in time-honoured
fashion told the first Sgeul. A most enjoyable Ceilidh followed.
A collection for An Comunn funds realised the sum of £3 3s 9d.
South Uist.—On 4th December Loch Caman and
lochdar Schools were visited, and additional enrolments were
made. In the evening a meeting of the lochdar Branch was
held, and new Office-bearers were appointed. That stalwart,
Donald MacPhee, continues as President, and Mr. Iain Mac-
Sween was appointed Hon. Secretary. At the close of a very
successful Ceilidh a collection was taken for An Comunn funds.
This amounted to £2 12s.
On the following day, Howmore and Stoneybridge Schools
were visited, and a public meeting was held in Howmore
School in the evening, with the Organiser in the chair. After
an address he suggested that a Branch of An Comunn might
be formed at Howmore. This was heartily approved. The
President is Mrs. MacRury, and the Hon. Secretary is Miss
Jean Currie, M.A. A pleasant hour was afterwards spent in
Song and Story.
On 6th December the following Schools were visited—
Kildonan (where the Organiser saw Donald Sinclair’s Play,
“Long nan Og,” being rehearsed for a Christmas Concert),
Garrynamona, Daliburgh, and Loch Boisdale. Further enrol¬
ments were made for Comunn na h-Oigridh. A meeting had
been arranged at Loch Boisdale School for that evening, but
the serious illness of the Headmaster’s second son caused a
postponement. This boy, eighteen years of age, has since
died, and to Mr. and Mrs. Bell we extend our heartfelt sympathy
in their irreparable loss.
Comunn na h - Oigridh.—The following are the enrol¬
ments made in Comunn na h-Oigridh during this visit to the
Uists and Benbecula ; and it should be added that the Organiser
was welcomed in every school by the staffs and the children.
Boys.
Lochmaddy .. 9
Sollas .. 10
Cladach-Kirkabost 4
Paibil .. 21
Tigharry .. 10
Locheport .. 5
Carinish .. 8
Torlum .. 8
Girls.
10
Feachd.
Loch Carnan
lochdar
Stoneybridge
Howmore
Kildonan
Garrynamona
Daliburgh ..
Loch Boisdale
Boys. Girls.
This shows a total of 307 new enrolments (146 boys and 161
girls).
Gaelic in the Isles.—From contacts made throughout the
Uists and Benbecula it was evident that Gaelic is still the
everyday language of old and young. From an encounter with
a little girl of three years at Clachan it was discovered that she
was freely at home in Gaelic and English. She would in her
childish talk switch over from the one language to the other
with the utmost ease. Since returning home the Organiser
has received a little letter in Gaelic from the boy and girl
leaders of the Sollas Feachd, enclosing a Postal Order for 11/-
to be ear-marked for the Badge Account of Comunn na
h-Oigridh. The letter was signed “ Cailean agus Morag.”
Sutherland Mod.—At a meeting of the Branch Repre¬
sentatives in the County of Sutherland, held at Lairg, it was
unanimously decided to hold a County Mod at Lairg on 27th
June, 1947. For some years two Mods were held annually,
but this decision reverts to the old way—a County Mod at
Lairg. The Mod will be under the auspices of the Lairg Branch,
with Mr. R. D. MacDonald as Hon. Secretary.
Camp Site at Inverailort.—Mr. John MacKay and the
Organiser visited Inverailort to report on the suitability of the
place for the Comunn na h-Oigridh Camp, 1947, Mr. Cameron-
Head having very kindly offered the ground as a camping
site. Both were hospitably received at the Castle, and with Mr.
Cameron-Head they inspected the ground. A report has been
prepared and will be considered by Clann an Fhraoich Com¬
mittee shortly.
An Comunn Concerts: Glen Urquhart.—During
Christmas week three Concerts were held, at Glen Urquhart,
Leachkin, and Dingwall respectively, in aid of the Central
Fund, which by these efforts has benefited to the amount of
£67 5s Id.
At Glen Urquhart, the Branch President, Donald Gumming,
Esq., of Borlum, presided over a full hall, and the Concert
programme was of a high standard. Neil MacLean and Jenny
Currie, assisted by first-class artistes, provided entertain¬
ment which suited all tastes. Thanks are due to the local
Branch for assistance in making the effort so successful.
Leachkin Concert.—Dr. William MacWilliam, Medical
Superintendent, very kindly granted the use of the Mental
Hospital Recreation Hall at the Leachkin for the second
Concert of the series, and he himself presided. Neil and Jenny
were again the star artistes, and they were ably supported by
other well-known singers and instrumentalists. The Concert
was enjoyed by all present, including about two hundred of the
patients. Sincere thanks are due to Dr. MacWilliam ; he is at
all times willing to help An Comunn in its work.
Dingwall Concert.—At the final concert of the
series, at Dingwall, the Chair was taken by Provost Alexander
MacRae. The Chairman, in the course of his remarks paid a
warm tribute to the late ex-Provost John MacRae, who was
at the time of his death President of the Dingwall Branch. Few
men did more than the ex-Provost for the language and music
of the Gael. Sincere thanks are due to Mr Reid of Soutar &
Reid, who attended to the booking and sale of tickets, and to
the gentlemen who acted as Stewards at the Concert.
Wick Branch.—The Wick Branch and many friends
in the North will wish Mr. R. J. G. Miller, Editor and Manager
of the John O' Groat Journal, many happy days in his retire¬
ment which took place at the end of the year. He occupied
the position of President of the Wick Branch for many years,
and several of the Papers which he delivered at the monthly
meeting of the Branch are still vividly recollected by the
writer. He is a keen student of Gaelic and delights in engaging
in simple conversation in the old language. Saoghal fada agus
laithean sona dhuibh, a charaid.
Laggan.—A new Branch has just been formed at
Laggan, and the President is a life member of An Comunn—
Mrs. MacPherson of Kinlochlaggan Hotel. The Hon. Secretary
is Mr Dugald Campbell, a prominent piper and a competitor
at the local Mod in the oral section. Colonel Ritchie of Craigdhu
has been instrumental in having this Branch organised. He
also is a keen student of Gaelic.